Helvetas is an organization specialized in development cooperation and humanitarian response, anchored in Switzerland. Our vision is a just world in which all people determine the course of their lives in dignity and security, using environmental resources in a sustainable manner.
For our Myanmar Programme team we are looking for a Project Director / Team Leader to join our organisation as per September 1st, 2025, or upon agreement. The position will be based in Yangon, Myanmar.
Helvetas is seeking a dynamic and experienced Project Director / Team Leader to lead the Myanmar Climate Resilient Community Initiative (CRCI). This strategic role is crucial for steering the implementation of a complex, multi-stakeholder project aimed at enhancing climate resilience in rural communities across Myanmar. If you are passionate about sustainable development and skilled in project leadership, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
YOUR MAIN TASKS
Lead overall project management, including planning, implementation, budgeting, monitoring and reporting in line with the Project Document and annual work plans.
Oversee financial and administrative operations, ensuring sound budget utilisation, financial reporting, audits, and compliance with donor and Helvetas standards.
Engage and manage project partners, including NGOs, CSOs, service providers and private sector actors—ensuring effective coordination and integration of project components.
Provide leadership in HR management, supporting recruitment, onboarding, coaching and performance reviews of project staff and short-term consultants.
Coach the Project Manager and team, fostering professional development, open communication, knowledge sharing and a strong team spirit.
Ensure strategic oversight and quality assurance, advising on project direction, facilitating cohesion across partners, and contributing to the project’s evolution through reflective learning and documentation of best practices.
Represent the project externally, liaising with donors (SDC, DFAT), national stakeholders, civil society and authorities, and participating in relevant national and international networks.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
Mandatory Qualifications & Requirements:
Master’s degree in Rural Development, Sustainable Agriculture, Environmental Science, Business Management or related field.
Training in Project Cycle Management and Inclusive / Market System Development.
Minimum 8 years in development cooperation in a management role, ideally in Southeast Asia.
At least 5 years first-hand experience in managing complex development projects with HR and budget responsibility.
Strong experience in coaching and mentoring diverse teams.
Proven ability to work in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
Outstanding coordination, strategic planning and leadership abilities.
Strong understanding of systemic change, gender and social inclusion.
Excellent communication, facilitation and conflict management skills.
Familiarity with global and regional trends in the sector.
Fluent in English (written and spoken).
Proficient in Microsoft Office and online collaboration tools.
Willingness to travel to rural and potentially insecure areas in Myanmar.
DESIRABLE / OPTIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
PhD or master’s in International Development, Climate Resilience or similar.
Further training in Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change Adaptation or Business Administration.
Experience working in Myanmar or other Southeast Asian countries.
Knowledge of Myanmar, Thai or local ethnic languages.
Familiarity with GIS tools, databases or AI-supported applications (e.g., Kobo).
Experience in facilitating innovation, entrepreneurship and organisational learning.
OUR OFFER
We offer you an interesting challenge in a motivated team with attractive working conditions. You can expect a modern workplace in a multicultural setting.
We look forward to receiving your complete application including CV, motivation letter, work certificates and diplomas by August 10, 2025 via our online recruiting portal. For further information please contact Severin Huber, Regional Coordinator Myanmar, severin.huber@helvetas.org, or visit our website www.helvetas.org.
Helvetas, Swiss Association for International Cooperation, founded 1955 as Switzerland’s first private organization for development cooperation, is registered as a denominationally and politically independent, non profit oriented, specialised development association.
Helvetas is primarily committed to working towards the elimination of the causes of poverty and marginalization in the South and the East. Its mission is to actively contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of economically, socially and politically disadvantaged people within the frame of the Human Rights, with a focus on self-initiative activities and self-help in rural areas.
Together with some 44’000 members and their local groups, Helvetas is as well actively engaged in Switzerland with respect to solidarity in development, to promoting fair trade, and raising public awareness of the cultural wealth of development and transition countries.
In its international programme, Helvetas concentrates its actions in four working areas:
1. Infrastructure in Rural Areas including initiatives regarding water and sanitation, access and mobilization, livelihood, rehabilitation and construction of basic infrastructure,
2. Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, also comprising projects in the fields of climate, disaster risk mitigation and sustainable livelihood management,
3. Education and Culture, including a number of successful initiatives in Vocational Education and Training (VET), support to and lobbying for reforms in the VET System, improvement of teaching and learning environments, modernization of curriculum, assessment and development of learning materials, human resource development, development of alternative financing approaches, awareness-building and income generation through artistic forms of expression, promotion of cultural exchange and diversity of cultural expressions.
4. Civil Society and the State, which integrates projects supporting good governance, decentralisation and civil peace building/conflict sensitivity.
Helvetas’ development initiatives are guided by five approaches: striving for equality between men and women (gender), learning through dialogue between different cultures, protecting the environment, acting with economic and social responsibility and conflict prevention.
Helvetas is not only oriented towards material needs, such as procuring food and improved living conditions, but also towards aims regarding social, cultural, and spiritual aspects. These include the overcoming of paralysing dependence, reduction of inequality between the sexes, ethnicity, castes, building up of self-confidence or the strengthening of responsibility towards other human beings and the environment. Helvetas acts on the basis of human rights and makes every effort that these are also respected by its partner organizations. Also important are the promotion of democratic, decentralised structures, opportunities for participation, and joint responsibility as citizens.
For its international programmes, Helvetas’ mission is:
- to cooperate on a partnership basis with and in favour of the poor and disadvantaged population groups in the poorer regions of development and transition countries
- to share knowledge and experiences between Switzerland and partner countries as well as to further promote mutual exchange between partner countries
- to strengthen local structures and sustainable development and to promote human rights
- to develop suitable measures that prevent or mitigate violent conflicts
Wherever indicated, Helvetas applies a multi-stakeholder approach involving partners of civil society, the state and the private sector in reaching development goals. On the basis of participatory approaches, Helvetas strengthens its partner organizations. Their institutional sustainability is a key concern which is addressed through capacity building of the partner organizations. Furthermore, to leverage the best utilisation of its knowledge, to strengthen internal learning and to share experience and lessons learnt with other development actors, Helvetas (in 2000) elevated Knowledge Sharing (KS) to a strategic level. Helvetas nowadays plays a leading role in KS for Development, striving for continuous learning through an intranet and face-to-face workshops. Helvetas supports facilitation of international Communities of Practice (CoP), e.g. the “Water-for-food”-network () or the “KM4Dev” (Knowledge Management for Development) (www.km4dev.org).
Helvetas currently employs 77 staff (56 full-time posts) at the Head Office in Switzerland, and 45 expatriates (42 full-time posts) and 630 local staff in 20 developing and transition countries. In 2009, Helvetas had a turnover of around 64.3 Mio CHF; 54.2 Mio CHF for programme support abroad, 3.4 Mio CHF for information and advocacy activities in Switzerland, and 6.7 Mio CHF for administration and fundraising in Switzerland.
Helvetas’ Board of Directors (15 members) determines the overall strategy based on the bylaws and executes financial control functions. The operational implementation is with the Secretary General and the Management Board (7; Heads of Departments and Secretary General) based on department and working area strategies and financial plans. The International Programmes Department (19 full-time posts) at the head office is divided into a geographic team (steering, coordination, controlling of the country programmes) and the thematic team (technical assistance and expertise, monitoring). In the partner countries, programme offices with programme directors (15) are responsible for the implementation of projects and country strategies. The finance department (4) at the head office operates the financial control system. The Programme direction and programme country projects are audited yearly by an external, independent auditing company (KPMG, Zurich). Helvetas is ZEWO certified, avails a risk analysis system and a well elaborated monitoring and evaluation system.
Helvetas’ monitoring and evaluation system pursues three objectives: a) to provide information for strategic steering, b) to allow organisational learning and c) to assure accountability to its constituencies, donors and the ultimate beneficiaries. Helvetas conducts therefore a) periodic monitoring, b) internal and external evaluations, c) qualitative case studies and d) impact assessments in a set of selected projects. For the periodic monitoring Helvetas has developed an electronic Project Monitoring System (pms), which is linked to its Internal Control System.
Helvetas introduced a decentralized management system in 1990, delegating a high degree of autonomy to the country programme directors. A project monitoring system enables the programme directors to delegate operational responsibility to national project managers and staff. The Helvetas programme offices are responsible for coordination and strategic issues.
Helvetas has links with networks and partner organisations, e.g. being actively involved in the SDC governance network, the KOFF (Competence Centre for Peace Building) intervision group on conflict sensitivity and gender network at university of Bern. Strategic partnership agreements exist particularly with SCA, SKAT and KOFF.
Start your application
Applications for this position must be completed on the recruiting organization's website.
